Explore the vast range of titles available.

Nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica infections are a leading cause of enteric disease in Canada, most commonly associated with foodborne exposures. Raw frozen breaded chicken products (FBCP) have been implicated in 16 Salmonella outbreaks between 2017 and 2019. This study quantified the impact of the 1 April 2019 requirement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for manufacturers to reduce Salmonella in raw FBCP. An intervention study approach utilizing the pre–post intervention data with a comparison group methodology was used to: (1) estimate the reduction in FBCP Salmonella prevalence using retail meat FoodNet Canada data; (2) estimate the reduction in the human salmonellosis incidence rate using data from the Canadian National Enteric Surveillance Program; and (3) estimate the proportion of reported cases attributed to FBCP if the human exposure to Salmonella through FBCP was completely eliminated. The FBCP Salmonella prevalence decreased from 28% observed before 1 April 2019 to 2.9% after the requirement implementation. The CFIA requirement was estimated to reduce the human salmonellosis incidence rate by 23%. An estimated 26% of cases during the pre-intervention period can be attributed to FBCP. The CFIA requirement was successful at significantly reducing Salmonella prevalence in retail FBCP, and at reducing salmonellosis burden.

Background SHANK2 disorder is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a deletion or pathogenic sequence variant of the SHANK2 gene and is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and developmental delay. To date, research in SHANK2 has focused on laboratory-based in vivo and in vitro studies with few prospective clinical studies in humans. Methods A remote assessment battery was comprised of caregiver interviews with a psychiatrist, psychologists, and a genetic counselor, caregiver-reports, and review of records. Results from this cohort were reported using descriptive statistics. An age-matched sample of participants with SHANK3 haploinsufficiency (Phelan-McDermid syndrome, PMS) was used to compare adaptive behavior between the two groups. Results All ten participants demonstrated delays in adaptive behavior, with most motor skills preserved and a weakness in communication. According to parent report, 90% of participants carried a formal diagnosis of ASD, 50% of participants carried a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and mild-to-moderate developmental delays were noted. Sensory hyperreactivity and seeking behaviors were more pronounced than sensory hyporeactivity. Medical features included hypotonia, recurrent ear infections, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. No similar facial dysmorphic features were observed. Compared to PMS participants, individuals with SHANK2 disorder had significantly higher adaptive functioning. Conclusions Consistent with previous studies of SHANK2 disorder, these results indicate mild to moderate developmental impairment. Overall, SHANK2 disorder is associated with developmental and adaptive functioning delays, high rates of autism, including sensory symptoms and repetitive behaviors, and ADHD. This study was limited by its remote nature, diverse age range, and the homogeneous racial and ethnic sample. Future studies should examine larger, diverse cohorts, add cognitive testing, capture longitudinal data, and include in-person assessments.

Forkhead box O3 (Foxo3) is a member of the FOXO subfamily within the forkhead box (FOX) family, which has been shown to be essential for ovarian follicular development and maturation. Previous studies have shown the abundant expression of miR-195-5p in the nuclei of porcine granulosa cells (GCs), suggesting its potential role during ovarian follicle growth. In this study, a conditional immortalized porcine granulosa cell (CIPGC) line was used to determine whether the expression of Foxo3 could be regulated by the nuclear-enriched miR-195-5p. Through silico target prediction, we identified a potential binding site of miR-195-5p within the Foxo3 promoter. The over-expression of miR-195-5p increased Foxo3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, while the knockdown of miR-195-5p decreased the expression of Foxo3. Furthermore, driven by the Foxo3 promoter, luciferase reporter activity was increased in response to miR-195-5p, while the mutation of the miR-195-5p binding site in the promoter region abolished this effect. In addition, the siRNA knockdown of Argonaute (AGO) 2, but not AGO1, significantly decreased Foxo3 transcript level. However, miR-195-5p failed to upregulate Foxo3 expression when AGO2 was knocked down. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assay showed that anti-AGO2 antibody pulled down both AGO2 and the Foxo3 promoter sequence, suggesting that AGO2 may be required for miR-195-5p to regulate Foxo3 expression in the nucleus. Additionally, Foxo3 expression was significantly increased by valproic acid (VPA), the inhibitor of deacetylase, as well as by methyltransferase inhibitor BIX-01294, indicating the involvement of histone modification. These effects were further enhanced in the presence of miR-195-5p and were decreased when miR-195-5p was knocked down. Overall, our results suggest that nuclear-enriched miR-195-5p regulates Foxo3 expression, which may be associated with AGO2 recruitment, as well as histone demethylation and acetylation in ovarian granulosa cells.

The pandemic caused by the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), beginning in early 2020, had an impact beyond anything experienced in recent history. People with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the leading known heritable cause of ASD and intellectual disability, were uniquely vulnerable to pandemic-related changes. This study surveyed parent perspectives of the impact on 33 school-aged children with FXS across daily living skills, education, therapies, behaviors, health visits, and mask wearing. Academic performance was perceived to have decreased in most of the children (58%). Students in online school had the most reports of decline and those in person had the most reported improvement. Parents were significantly more satisfied with services that remained in person compared to those delivered online or in hybrid settings. Additionally, depression (75%), sleep problems (80%), attention problems (73%), and social skills (61%) were reported to have worsened the most. Parents reported that in addition to continuing with a structured schedule, the most helpful strategies were increasing face-to-face social interactions and outdoor activities. Future research should explore strategies to help online interventions and education to be more successful with individuals with FXS, given this may become a resource for families not geographically able to access in-person resources.

This descriptive phenomenological inquiry expanded the knowledge that exists about the beneficial extensions of informal mentoring for tenure track faculty members. The pertinence of interactions between seasoned faculty and junior faculty suggests that when a genuine commitment is made to communicate openly and objectively, an educator may gain insight essential to their performance success and employment continuity. The perspectives gained through participant interviews illustrate the potential for mentoring to assist tenure track faculty’s transition into their institution and achieve success. The study explored the ways in which informal mentoring is experienced by tenure track faculty in at least their third year of employment at the institution. Key theories explored in the interview series included Kram’s (1983) phases of the mentorship relationship (1983) and Bourdieu’s (1986) forms of capital. The study findings suggest that tenure track faculty engage in informal mentoring for both career-related and psychological support, functions of mentoring previously identified by Todoran (2023). Additionally, participant experiences shed light on the need for institutionalized support of mentoring, specifically the importance of recognizing and funding mentoring that occurs both formally and informally.

CHAMP1 disorder is a genetic neurodevelopmental condition caused by mutations in the CHAMP1 gene that result in premature termination codons. The disorder is associated with intellectual disability, medical comorbidities, and dysmorphic features. Deletions of the CHAMP1 gene, as part of 13q34 deletion syndrome, have been briefly described with the suggestion of a milder clinical phenotype. To date, no studies have directly assessed differences between individuals with mutations in CHAMP1 to those with deletions of the gene. We completed prospective clinical evaluations of 16 individuals with mutations and eight with deletions in CHAMP1. Analyses revealed significantly lower adaptive functioning across all domains assessed (i.e., communication, daily living skills, socialization, and motor skills) in the mutation group. Developmental milestones and medical features further showed difference between groups. The phenotypes associated with mutations, as compared to deletions, indicate likely difference in pathogenesis between groups, where deletions are acting through CHAMP1 haploinsufficiency and mutations are acting through dominant negative or gain of function mechanisms, leading to a more severe clinical phenotype. Understanding this pathogenesis is important to the future of novel therapies for CHAMP1 disorder and illustrates that mechanistic understanding of mutations must be carefully considered prior to treatment development.

The clinical spectrum of Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is varied, with wide-ranging degrees of intellectual disability, developmental delays, behavioral abnormalities, and medical features. Different types of genetic variation lead to PMS, and differing genotypes (e.g., size of deletion or type of variant) account for some of this variability, with strong associations between genotype and phenotype observed with degree of intellectual disability and presence of specific medical features such as renal abnormalities. To date, no studies have assessed how genotype is associated with the natural history of developmental or behavioral features in PMS over time. Here, we report on longitudinal data in developmental and behavioral domains from 154 individuals with PMS, comparing those with Class 1 (minimal) deletions, Class 2 deletions, and sequence variants, assessing both within-subject (individual change over time) and between-subject (across age) differences. Consistent with previous results, average scores per group differed in most adaptive and developmental domains, with individuals with Class 1 deletions performing best, followed by individuals with Class 2 deletions and sequence variants, who often performed similarly. However, in most domains of adaptive behavior, intellectual functioning, and behavioral features, genetic groups did not differ in their rate of change over time or in differences in scores across ages. Exceptions, notably in expressive language, existed. These results suggest that, although genotype may be related to overall degree of impairment, individuals with PMS, regardless of genotype, tend to have a similar rate of change over time and age in developmental and behavioral domains. A significant caveat is that sequencing is a relatively recent diagnostic approach, which will bias the results.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating chemical in cannabis plants that is being investigated as a candidate for treatment in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading known cause of inherited intellectual developmental disability. Studies have shown that CBD can reduce symptoms such as anxiety, social avoidance, hyperactivity, aggression, and sleep problems. This is a qualitative study that utilized a voluntary-anonymous survey that consisted of questions regarding demographics, medical information, the form, type, brand, dose, and frequency of CBD use, the rationale for use, the perception of effects, side effects, and costs. The full survey contained a total of 34 questions, including multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and optional free-response questions. This research revealed that there are a wide range of types, brands, and doses of CBD being administered to individuals with FXS by their parents and caregivers. There were many reasons why CBD was chosen, the most common ones being that respondents had heard positive things about CBD from members of the community, the perception that CBD had fewer side effects than other medications, and because respondents felt that CBD was a more natural substance. Most of the parents and caregivers who responded agreed that CBD improved some of the symptoms of FXS and made a positive difference overall. CBD has the therapeutic potential to help relieve some FXS symptoms. Future research is necessary to understand the benefits of CBD in FXS.

This exploratory study examines the importance of cultivating media literacy within undergraduate students of journalism so that they may function as well-informed, responsible, accountable, and objective contributors to the field. Through anecdotal experience as both an undergraduate and graduate student at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno the PI observed direct conversations in which students openly acknowledged that they did not read the news or stay up to date on current events. Additionally, these college students openly conveyed how they relied solely on social media platforms (rather than well-known publications and broadcast stations) for information. As professional journalists ideally function as watchdogs of society, it is imperative that journalism students develop responsible media literacy and research competencies. Further, they must be able to amass a wide scope of understanding on the topics on which they write. The failure to embody these professional best practices has serious implications on the truthfulness of their subsequent reporting as an active member of the journalism body in the United States, and by extension, the conclusions drawn by members of the general public who read the material they produce.